Google picks Columbia County for data center with local hiring pledge
Google has announced it will be the sole operator of a new data center in Columbia County, Georgia, a significant investment expected to create jobs and strengthen the local tax base. The project coincides with a federal initiative to protect consumers from rising electricity costs and includes restrictive development standards designed to address local residents' concerns.
Google has announced plans to be the sole operator of a new data center at White Oak Technology Park in Columbia County, Georgia. County officials, including Economic Development Authority Chairman Rick Evans and Commission Chairman Doug Duncan, highlighted the project as one of the most significant investments in the county's history, promising job creation and a strengthened commercial tax base.
The announcement was made following a meeting in Washington, D.C., where Duncan, County Manager Scott Johnson, and EDA Executive Director Cheney Eldridge met with President Donald Trump. During this meeting, the administration unveiled its "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," a voluntary federal initiative aimed at mitigating rising electricity costs linked to the rapid development of data centers across the nation.
Local leaders also indicated that a partnership between Google and Georgia Power Co. would implement some of the nation's most stringent development standards for new data centers. Google has committed to covering 100% of the energy costs associated with this project. These new covenants are intended to ease concerns among residents who have previously expressed anger over the county's approval of data center projects.
This Google project follows earlier reports by The Augusta Chronicle in April 2025 regarding commercial developer Trammell Crow Co.'s proposal for a large data center in the vicinity. While county leaders rejected one subsequent data center proposal, another near the Pumpkin Center community was approved for development.